SPOTLIGHT / SATURDAY’S GAMES AT A GLANCE : SOME CELEBRATION

Is celebrating getting out of control these days? It seems that every reception or kick return of anything more than 15 yards is a precursor to a mini-Mardi Gras. Consider the timing of Travis Hannah’s act late in USC’s game against Notre Dame. Hannah made a leaping catch of a 41-yard pass to give the Trojans first and goal. His hand-waving strut across the field was worthy of a Super Bowl victory. Only problem was that USC didn’t score and the Irish won, 31-23. Notre Dame’s ensuing celebration was a bit more timely.

SOME NUMBERS

The day’s biggest rushing statistics belonged to Chris Babirad of Division III Washington & Jefferson (Pa.), who rushed for 286 yards and four touchdowns in a 51-15 quarterfinal victory over Emory & Henry. Babirad has 2,160 yards and 29 rushing touchdowns this season.

HERE’S THE CATCH

There’s only one place to play for receivers interested in catching more passes than anyone else: Houston. For the last six seasons, a Cougar receiver has led the nation’s Division I-A teams in catches. This season, it was Sherman Smith, who finished with 103. Previous winners were Fred Gilbert in 1991 with 106, Manny Hazzard in 1990 with 78, Hazzard in 1989 with 142, Jason Phillips in 1988 with 108 and Phillips in 1987 with 99.

No wonder with such quarterbacks as David Klingler, who will get his first start with the Cincinnati Bengals today, and younger brother Jimmy. The elder Klingler has NCAA single-game marks of 11 touchdowns and 716 passing yards; Jimmy passed for 613 yards and seven touchdowns Saturday against Rice. Smith

caught 14 passes for 83 yards in that game. Keith Jack had eight catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns and Ron Peters six for 163 and three scores.

LAST TIME AROUND

Some went out with a bang, some with a whimper, but all have one thing in common: They won’t be coaching their teams next season.

Going out on a winning note:

--Joe Kines, who took over as an interim coach at Arkansas one game into the season, was told Saturday he would not be considered for the full-time job. The Razorbacks finished 3-7-1 after beating Louisiana State on Friday, at which time Kines still thought he was going to be considered for the post. But Frank Broyles, Arkansas athletic director, said he is looking for a “proven coach” and decided Kines had not proved enough.

--Grant Teaff ended his regular-season career at Baylor with an emotional 21-20 victory over Texas. Teaff had a 127-105-6 record at Baylor, which will play Arizona in the John Hancock Bowl.

--Colorado State’s 14-10 victory over New Mexico couldn’t erase four seasons of abuse that Earle Bruce heaped on the program. Bruce was fired Monday amid charges of NCAA violations and mistreatment of players. The former disciple of Woody Hayes began screaming in anger at the news conference announcing his termination. He finished 22-24-1 at Colorado State.

--Johnny Majors’ final regular-season game at Tennessee was a 29-25 victory over Vanderbilt. Majors, who will coach the Volunteers in the Hall of Fame Bowl, resigned when Tennessee would not extend his contract beyond 1994. Many Southeastern Conference coaches still wonder why someone with a 116-62-8 record wouldn’t be given whatever he wanted.

Losing finishes:

--Pat Dye, denying that his decision had anything to do with charges by a former player who said he got cash from coaches and boosters, quit at Auburn the day before the Alabama game. Auburn lost, 17-0, to finish the season 5-5-1. Dye was 99-39-4 at Auburn.

--Paul Hackett’s final game at Pittsburgh was a 57-13 loss to Penn State, leaving him 13-20-1 at the school. Hackett, who resigned under fire on Wednesday, won’t coach the Panthers in their final game Saturday at Hawaii.

--Gene Murphy, who once guided Cal State Fullerton to a national ranking, finally gave in to a school that never really considered football a top priority. The Titans lost in their season finale to Nevada Las Vegas, 33-16, leaving Murphy with a 57-80-1 record at Fullerton. The Titans finished 2-9 this season.

Here’s a look at how some other coaching notables ended their college careers, first the upbeat finishes:

--John Robinson’s final game at USC, in 1982, was one of his most memorable, a 17-13 victory over Notre Dame before 76,459. The Trojans, banned from postseason play because of NCAA sanctions, finished 8-3, sending Robinson to the pro ranks with a 67-14-2 record at USC.

--Red Sanders couldn’t have asked for a better finale in 1957, at least in the regular season. UCLA (8-2) beat USC, 20-9, leaving Sanders with a 66-19-1 record with the Bruins.

--Knute Rockne’s final game also came at USC’s expense, though at the time there was no indication that it was to be his last. Notre Dame upset the Trojans, 27-0, to finish its season 10-0 and give Rockne a record of 105-12-5 with the Irish. Rockne was killed in a plane crash the following March.

On the down side:

--Bo Schembechler’s Michigan team breezed through the Big Ten in 1989, winning all eight of its conference games and earning a trip to the Rose Bowl. An example of the Big Ten’s recent problems on Jan. 1 in Pasadena (Pac-10 teams have won nine of the last 11 Rose Bowls), the Wolverines lost to USC, 17-0. Schembechler, who was 194-48-5 at Michigan, had a 2-8 record in the Rose Bowl.